The NDSU Extension Service
Who We Are and What We Do - A Summary
A companion piece to the internal document prepared to
reaffirm the vision of the NDSU Extension Service
August 2004
| PROGRAMS | Agriculture, youth and family program areas will continue to be the foundation of NDSU Extension Service's work. However, increased pressure on natural resources, rural community decline, population shifts and local leadership needs suggest that more extension effort is needed in the natural resource, and community leadership and economic development program areas. |
| PROGRAM DELIVERY | Extension program delivery has always included a high degree of service, facilitation and content transmission - program delivery methods that continue to be important. However, the trend is to put emphasis on extension programs that address key issues and that result in clearly-defined outcomes. This type of programming, called transformational education, requires several planning steps: identifying needs, collaborating and/or partnering with other agencies, determining objectives or learner outcomes, choosing delivery methods, and determining and reporting impacts. While program delivery continues to focus on "community of place," more emphasis will be put on programming around "communities of interest." |
| CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT | Extension work benefits from a high degree of citizen engagement. Not only does this help assure that extension programs are on target, it helps build and maintain strong local advocacy and social influence. All extension educators are expected to utilize some form of organized citizen engagement as they plan and deliver programs. |
| STAFFING | A key strength of the NDSU Extension Service is its strong mix of county, area, and state faculty and staff members. Extension will continue to strive to maintain county staffing levels in the future. Extension will also seek new resources to increase its area staffing and extend formal state staffing connections to colleges in addition to the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, and the College of Human Development and Education. Core competencies will be the basis of professional development for all extension educators. |
| FUNDING | The NDSU Extension Service will strive to maintain its federal formula funds and county funding support, and grow its state appropriations. Extension will also become more aggressive in seeking grant funds and pursuing new funding partners. |
| MARKETING | The NDSU Extension Service continues to market its educational programs through mass media, booths and displays, newspaper ads and the Internet. Fortifying existing efforts and identifying new ways to reach people-current and prospective users of extension-is an on-going job as our audiences continue to change. |
| BROADER MISSION | Agriculture, youth and family programs will continue to be the foundation of NDSU Extension Service's work. And, extension will always stay true to its purpose. However, in keeping with the land-grant mission, effort will be made to expand linkages with broader NDSU research and multistate collaboration to be in the best position possible to address North Dakota issues and opportunities. |
NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State
University
of Agriculture and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture
cooperating. Duane Hauck, Director, Fargo, North Dakota.
Distributed
in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We
offer
our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color,
national
origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or
sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
This publication will be made available in alternative
format upon request to people with disabilities (701) 231-7881.
North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension